blood sport.

i see what's mine and take it.

[frcharlesii]

lisette.

For some reason, his agreement in bedding her brought a smile to Lisette’s face. Feeling as if she’d won something, like his interest was proof of her worth. “The strength?”, she asked him then, curiosity growing dangerous, leaning in to whisper to him, “What exactly is it you mean to do to me?”

charles would have mimicked her lean had he not wanted to keep some level of disinterest, even if it was only in the mildest form. her imagination would probably be aligned with charles’ own expectations ; she seemed smart enough to think beyond plain bedroom antics. “ i like to be thorough, ” he alluded, minutely shrugging both shoulders. “ there’s no use in such activities if only one leaves entertained, true? ”

[frcharlesii]

lisette.

Lisette reddened despite herself watching the prince look her figure up and down, debating how far she truly could take this harmless banter. In accordance with her true nature, Lisette pushed the matter in the direction of self-sabotage. “And would you like a lesson then, your Highness? That is the only question I need answered, presently.”

spoken like a challenge, charles replied, “ i would accept a lesson from you, yes. ” whether or not she would follow through was a raffle he was willing to take, and charles would go to bed without any true disheartenment. a faint dusting of a smile crossed his features, as to dilute any abrasion his words could hold. “ i would hope you still have the strength, is all. dancing can prove to be tiresome, and i like my lessons to be without intermission. ”

[frcharlesii]

addison.

     it was only at his compliment that her head rose to allow her eyes to settle upon him. it wasn’t that she hadn’t known she was lovely, she had. it was the very reason she had been sent here, to capture the gaze of old men with cravings for young, pretty things. “his highness is too kind. .” she spoke, hazel eyes taking in the curl of brown locks that curtained his face from her. it was not her place to offer him pretty words in return, yet, she could not stop herself as they flowed from her tongue. “you are much more handsome than they say. .” with the end of her thought spoken aloud that her hand flew to her mouth, feet carrying her several steps back to retreat from any possible anger those words might have brought about. 

    addison should have apologized, should have begged his forgiveness. if she had been a smarter girl she would have fell to her knees and spoke his true praises and yet she remained frozen several paces from him, awaiting some sort of rebuttal. .  some sort of demand.

     he wasn’t being kind, merely honest. it wasn’t often charles felt captivated by women ; he could appreciate them, sure, and he never wished any of them ill, even when they were nothing more than another body to warm his bed, but this near enchantment he felt looking at her was unparalleled to any emotion he’s had before. charles managed to stifle his laughter with her compliment, remaining nothing more than a rumble in the center of his chest, but his lips had managed to inch into a smile regardless. “ i would save the compliments for once you see me in full garb. ”

    how long he was to hold up this ruse was beyond him, maybe until once he was found out but charles had no intention of confessing now. charles decided again lingering for too long more, half because he hadn’t wanted his mother to waltz in and blow his cover. as he stood, his smile minimized to that of something more soft, allowing a single whisper as he walked past her. “ there are many surprises for you yet. ”

[frcharlesii]

alessandra.

    ─ the royal c a r r i a g e had passed through the plague-stricken countrysides of france on their slow journey towards english soil, crowds of common folk leaving their laborious work to wave the royal family farewell. blackened remains of a failed harvest grew where lush pastures and fields of golden corn had once been, the lack of food lending a painful g a u n t n e s s to the cheeks of peasant children. it had pained her, as the queen mother to such a nation, yet no instruction had been made to draw the curtains over the windows of her horse-drawn compartment and punishment had been made for those who had attempted to s h i e l d themselves from such a sight. there had been a few tears but it only served to further emphasize the burden of france upon her shoulders and the unspoken promise she had made to every starving child ─ a promise for a better country, with or without the blessing of the current king.

    ( m e n died everyday, her mother had once whispered, and alessandra still held those words close to her heart. a king was still a man, beneath all the pomp. )

    “they are wise to keep the status of their coffers hidden. she has given the people of england respite from their daily woes with c e l e b r a t i o n yet has somehow managed to remain frugal at the same time.” no doubt comparisons would have been made between the english and the french ─ improvident king charles and puritanical queen catherine. "my evening has been aching familiar, little one. a queen can do nothing but w a i t for her king, it matters not where i am.” the press of his fingers atop her hand was a comfort, however, and a reminder as to why she stayed strong as female monarch of france. “it soothes the heart to know that i am still needed by my children ─ by you.”

    ─ he stayed quiet when she spoke, as he always had, as if his mother’s words held a double meaning only charles would understand, which he’d take to his grave without another’s notice. even when there wasn’t, when it was all merely conversation beneath soft tones, charles found himself enthralled. they were similar, enough so that if anyone were to earnestly as him point blank whether there was a preference between father and mother, charles would have had little discretion to answer honestly. ( his mother. always. ) the left corner of his mouth pinched with dismay, head turning enough to catch the still vacant entrance to the room. how lowly it must have felt to need to wait for a husband’s company to feel adequate. charles knew better than to think his mother so dependent on personality alone, but it was all for saving face. always for hashing whispers. 

    “ i’ve yet to see the reason for our departure from france. ” from his perspective, and frankly anyone’s with any common sense, there was much to be done back home. even if it was nothing more than spreading loose promises, charles couldn’t see any real reason as to why the entire family had to be uprooted for the sake of a betrothal. why his mother had to be sat in this candlelit room with no one but himself to accompany her because his father was understandably off doing god only knew with his mistress, why charles had to be forced to walk the halls as nothing more than the inevitable king consort of england’s brother. his tone adopted a sound more sour as he muttered,  “ nothing more than a   façade   of solidarity. ”

[frcharlesii]

addison.

     resentment was all she found in his words. she was no fawn. .  she had simply not yet come into her own. .  or so she told herself. there were certain things a lady was allowed to do and to be so bold in front of the crown prince was not amongst that very small list. her gaze flickered up then, eyes set on him for only a moments time before they found themselves again on the toe of her shoe. addison had expected louis to be older… had expected him to be more pompous in his stance. .  though where he lacked in posture he certainly made up for it in speak. “oh gracious and noble prince,” she began, words unsavory on the tips of her tongue. years of meek obedience had the girl choking on bile every moment of everyday. 

     “do not trouble yourself, it is i who should be more equipped to recognize the steps of one so great, ordained by god.” for a moment, addison had to wonder if they truly believed that. .  if for instance, god had set his father upon the throne despite his inability to govern over his people with a steady and giving hand. if there was one thing this encounter had given her it was an insight to the manner of the next king.

    his insides preened beneath the compliment, although assumedly overdone and not at all earnestly addressed to him but charles would take whatever he was given. he always had. instances proved to be the most entertainment which charles could find himself in current times, pauses between the ever-growing list of obstacles for the french people. it wasn’t quite his responsibility, but charles worked under the assumption both his father and elder brother did little more than prance amongst high noblemen. “ i suppose only time will tell if you are truly capable of it, ” he spoke around a heaving sigh, eyes once more set upon her figure. charles had to wonder if she was plainly meek, having still not earned her gaze for more than a moment. “ i won’t let them behead you for it either way ; that face of yours is much too pretty to be wasted on the guillotine. ”

     ten fingers skimmed along the top of the table, feeling out the familiar wood to give him cause to pull his own eyes from her. if there was one thing charles would never do, it was implore for the attention of those in the same room as himself, regardless of whether it was the king of england or one of his mother’s ladies. 

[frcharlesii]

addison.

     she swore her embarrassment had to have been strewn upon her face, after all, it still resided in the pits of her stomach, an uneasy feeling accompanying the rest of his words. the girl hadn’t been raised in this world. in her home she was waited on, the only person she had to truly serve being her parents. .  it was only natural she should make a mistake or two. fortunately for her, this boy seemed the truly forgiving sort. his hand motion was caught out of the side of her eye, her body raising but eyes still cast down, not wanting to convey anymore disrespect than she already had. 

     his words on the younger prince, a boy she knew by charles from stories amongst court had her lips in a tight line, unable to think or speak ill of the family she served. instead she only spoke when he asked her name, figuring a direct question was safe to answer. “addison, your highness.” still, her words were timid, soft in volume as if speaking any louder would emit a familiarity she did not and would not have with a man of his status.

     her name rolled around in his head for a solid twenty seconds, as if his tongue had to get used to the weight of the syllables, iron it out so that it wouldn’t have been heard as anything more intrigued than an average address. green eyes took the liberty of looking over her more thoroughly then, too attuned with the statuesque poise and the fact that she had yet to actually meet his gaze. it wasn’t too often charles spent time with the women his mother surrounded herself with, nor their help in anything more than passing or common courtesy when at the dining hall, but he was attuned enough to know the difference in body language between bred respect and fear. 

     " you look like a fawn amongst wolves, addison. ” had charles not felt mildly responsible for her current meek stature, he would have sounded more humored. “ there’s no need to be afraid of me. you’ve been forgiven ; a mistake made on more instances than you would find yourself believing, truthfully. ” the heel of his left foot tapped to the floor twice beneath the table. “ maybe it’s part my doing. dainty footsteps, ” he teased, straightening out his posture. “ i’ll do better to come stomping in next time, so you’re more aware of the difference in company. ”

[frcharlesii]

addison.

     regret was immediate, nervous heat painting her skin a most likely unflattering shade of pink. of all the days she found herself being assertive to those who aided her it had to be today. quickly she turned to face the prince, her head lowered and her gaze set on the floor as she dipped into a low curtsey. “your royal highness.” she breathed voice much meeker now than it had been moments ago. such disrespect could have found her stripped of her duties, sent back home to an angry set of parents. it was the last thing the girl wanted and frankly the one thing in this world that would do her actual harm. “forgive me, please - “ her words were rambled now, nearly a string of half coherent syllables. 

     hazel eyes remained cast on stone flooring, terrified to look up at the future king of france. it was now that she hoped whatever loveliness others saw in her would help divert whatever anger was surely brewing in his chest. her small frame trembled, legs threatening to collapse beneath her curtsey though she willed herself to remain. she would not rise until she was instructed to. if he wished her to stay as she was now for the next several hours than she would and with no opposition from worrisome lips.

     it hadn’t been the first time he’d been offhandedly spoken to, and had charles not already been sure of his demeanor as a person, he would have thought that spoke volumes. however, at most, it appeared to be a simple mishap of timing and he would like to think himself far more forgiving of such mistakes than the remainder of his family. “ you’re forgiven, ” he reassured with a wave of his hand to welcome the end of her curtsey. “ although i would be more conscious of whom it is in the room before you speak, goodness knows my brother wouldn’t be nearly as quick to accept your remorse. ” somewhere between the words the volume of his voice had sunk to that of a whisper, as if he was divulging family secrets. “ i’ll have you know the whispers are true. he’s   horrendously   spoiled. ”

   charles then allowed himself a seat at the table she had been readying, a spot he perched upon more often than not, which gave him the privilege of getting a better look of her. she was pretty ; delicate features and a soft hue which charles couldn’t have been sure wasn’t completely residual mortification. “ i don’t believe i’ve seen you amongst my mother’s other ladies, ” he noted, folding loose hands against the tabletop. “ what did you say your name was again? ”

[frcharlesii]

addison.

@frcharlesii

     her rise in position had been unexpected, where the girl was once lady to a duchess she now found herself in service of the queen. it was the sort of ascension her father had wanted for their family, the sort that would have men of high status casting their gaze upon her. his home for a baron had quickly shifted to that of a duke now. addison, however, didn’t see the move as anything more than shuffling; the same pawn-like motion she had experienced all her life. .  the only difference being here, she was not subjected to the hardened hands of her father or the demeaning words of her mother. here, she was merely a girl with a purpose. .  even if that purpose was simply to tend to the needs of a woman more important than she.

     duty had her in the queen’s parlor room, setting the furnishing and foods about for a meeting she was having with a son ( which, addison was unsure of. she hadn’t the chance to meet either with their studies taking them to separate estates. ) in nearly an hours time. such scheduling had addison assuming the foot steps she heard were those of a servant girl meant to bring drink from the kitchens. “put it on the table near the chaise.” she spoke, instruction clear as she focused her own attention on that organization, the queens papers in hand as she sorted them onto a small table in the center of the room.

     time had proved to show charles being a second son was little different than being another daughter. although he was still made common with the presentings of his status and proper etiquette for those insubordinate to him, he was little more than a glorified pawn. his father would have him marry whomever was best fit for the country, whether that be as solidifying a spoken treaty or inject themselves into a country that was too small to stand on their own. there was a good chance he would grow to be nothing more than an extension of his father’s rule, and his brother’s thereafter. 

     his mother proved to be the only saving grace. a beacon of hope amongst sour realities, charles often spent what free time he had in her company. there was never a moment he wasn’t wholeheartedly reassured, most of the time by her presence alone. it was the main reason why he’d found himself in her parlor room a hefy amount of time before he was expected to be, although he had presumed it would be empty. his gaze almost immediately fell upon a girl he’d only heard of twice in passing. “ what exactly am i meant to be placing on the table? ” he inquired, feigning ignorance to make his presence known. his strides halted four paces from where she currently stood, a dusting of amusement softening either corner of his mouth. “ ─ i do believe we have yet to be properly introduced. ” and charles had sincerely meant to leave it at that, a kind nudge of respect, but this encounter was probably going to be the most entertainment he’d have today and before he could have thought through any possibly repercussions, he found himself adding, “ most address me as his royal highness, although you appear comfortable enough to call me louis. ”

[nomoresuckers]

favorite ‘electra heart’ lyrics

primadonna

[frcharlesii]

lisette.

Her head tilted slightly to the side, just looking at this new french prince a moment. She wondered how much more fun this little banter would have been if she were still just a naive little girl, wandering about her father’s house, so very not in love with the Scottish prince with the icicle eyes. 

She would have toyed with him still, but game of cat and mouse might have actually had a proper ending. As it was, the prince looked very much like the cat that ate the canary and the young Countess let herself enjoy the sight. 

“I should hope they would be new.. so as not to bore you further while partaking in an activity meant to stave boredom. Though I will admit, I worry anything that someone such as yourself would consider new would also being something new to me.” 

“ that would be the brunt of the fun, would it not? ” frankly, it had been a while since charles had experienced something sincerely enticing. there just felt to be too much of the same old, too much routine embedded into an already structured day. he had only loose hopes being in england would change the trance-like state he nearly harbored back in france. 

green eyes gave a skim of the girl from head to toe, a contradictory combination of fleeting and blatant. “ to go on demeanor alone, i would assume you were thinking too little of yourself. i’m sure there’s a good some anyone can learn from a girl whom looks as you do. ”

[frcharlesii]

alessandra.

    ─ the soft sound of d a r k burgundy liquid pouring into an ornate goblet perturbed through the dull haze that had settled over her thoughts and instinctual politeness beckoned a smile to curve gently at her lips, breeding false promise with the accompanying gratitude in her gaze. yet sharp orbs landed upon the familiar figure of a son ( the preferred one, the b e l o v e d one ) and honest warmth flooded through the wind-chilled ice within her bones at the sight. a queen’s side would always be lonely, alessandra had learned that from a young age, but the presence of her third child and youngest boy filled the emptiness that echoed in her heart. “mon cœur… you already d o.” gentle relief of an old and forgotten queen as fingers reach for his free hand, pale skin cold to touch. “you should be dancing with a woman, charles, not playing companion to an aged queen.” secretive smile between a serpent and her offspring. unspoken words of playing a young queen kept silenced in the english court. “you had a productive evening?”

    ─ the abyss between husband and wife might’ve been more exaggerated in his mind, filled with jagged rock from floor to the top, chiseled by every ill word whispered about the weakness of the queen and the poorly manner in which their family as a whole had   forgotten   to nurse their country but charles swore he saw a light at the end of the tunnel at a mere touch from his mother, an unspoken promise of a grand france that would not need the aid of its neighbors to stand proud and tall. both hands situate themselves around one of hers, hopeful that his own ten fingers could somehow furnish whatever it was she might have been missing. “ the coronation of this new queen is little different than the same festivities father hosts back in france, ” he confessed, a hue of   boredom   lacing the hushed tone charles was certain to maintain. it’d do no good to get himself beheaded for foul speak of the new monarch. “ no production needed on my end, no more than a few dances and pleasantries and i’ve already gotten my fill of both. ” had it gone his way, charles would have had a few more glasses of wine and a few less conversations about his elder brother’s betrothal to the queen. “ and of yours? far more enlightening than those back home, i would hope. ”

[frcharlesii]

eleanor.

     boring, boring, boring. thats all any of this drab court talk seemed to be. her need for something more was the sole drive for the next slew of words that fell from her tongue. “tell me, whats it like in france as of late?” it wasn’t an outright insult but the insinuation as well as genuine curiosity was there. “i’ve heard terrible, terrible things… i’ve prayed many a night for the french.”

     his home country was near ruin. there was little pain more devastating than have to know his people were starving, cheeks hollowed out by malnutrition and a desperation amongst those that were fortunate enough to have the smallest amount. it was at least three quarters of the reason why charles had intended on vying for catherine’s hand, but he’d’ve rather been personally escorted to the gates of hell than let his name nor country be smeared. “ i do believe it’d be best for your prayers to be saved for your own family. ” he’d heard his version of terrible things: a family displaced, another rousing bid for a crown. “ or has your brother already given up on playing contender for the scottish throne? ”

[frcharlesii]

alessandra.

    ─ milky incisors bite into the soft flesh of her bottom lip, stained r e d with the wine she had been nursing since the start of festivities, gaze vacant as permission was granted to each requesting man to spirit away one of her ladies for the pleasure of an evening filled with dancing and the press of mouths against each other. no doubt the women will r e t u r n to her in the morning with useful information regarding the hidden secrets of the english court but for now, at least, the queen sat alone, the seat beside her achingly vacant. ever the image of a dutiful queen despite the absence of her king, she remained at the table designated for the french m o n a r c h y, attention diverted by a sudden movement by her side.

    “you may clear the plates, if that is what you are here for. and more wine, if possible.”

    his feet had taken him away from the festivities before charles had been able to think otherwise ; a product of his body being better attuned with his surroundings than his mind. there hadn’t been any plan to stumble upon any person, his tongue tired from the common pleasantries and formal conversation although charles would never quite pass up to sit in the silence with alessandra. she was a walking   blessing   in his eyes. even when sat alone in what could easily be painted as a self deprecating moment, she still withheld the same confidence that no mistress nor foreigner could falter. time and time again, there would be nothing but   respect   for his mother in his eyes. quietly, the glass in front of her is filled before charles perched himself in the seat beside her, informally sitting with his legs in the space between chairs rather than tucked beneath the table. 

      with his thumb pressed along the rim of an empty glass, charles murmured, “ can i make you smile, mother? ”

[frcharlesii]

eleanor.

     unlikely. ale was a poor man’s beverage, one that had no place in the affairs of well suited individuals. “perhaps.” she lied, faux smile pulling at the corners of her lips. the french hadn’t much to offer at the moment, but with england on their side they might. .  meaning this prince was one her attentions would have to remain on. “is there one you suggest?” her tone held an inflection now it hadn’t before, one that feigned genuine interest. 

       “ god, no, ” he refuted, left side of his face pinching at the memory of the first time he’d drank something apart from their usual drink. by no means was it appetizing, but charles was also foolish enough to give it a second chance if the opportunity ever presented itself. “ i’m a wine man, ” he disclosed, as if that at all would place him upon a higher status. his left shoulder shrugged halfheartedly. “ i can understand some’s appeal for ale, is all. ”

[frcharlesii]

lisette.

Her brows furrowed again but the girl’s smile did not falter. Above all else, she found herself rather curious. “Do you have these nights often then? In France?” 

“I agree no one can be too good. Not even yourself. Ever think you might stand to benefit from a bit of learning?”, she countered, lower lip now encapsulated by her teeth as she eyed him, deciding to stay silent rather than finish what she’d meant to say aloud.

“ that, madam  ─ ” his head tipped slightly in her direction, laying emphasis on his first word and maybe also to give cause to the way his smile seemed to elongate without stretching into a full on grin. “ ─  would rely on what your definition of ‘ often ’ is. ”

he hummed into the rim of his glass as if he earnestly had to think about it, solely to by himself the time to relish in the entertainment he’d stumbled into. this conversation was wildly more appealing than dancing. “ i could, ” he agreed casually. “ even i am not exempt from some lessons. s’pose it’d only be a matter of whether or not they’re new, or simply reiteration. ”

[frcharlesii]

catherine.

     amusing, entertaining, appealing and anything of the like; thats what this young prince was. “i’d hate to have your brother, my betrothed, in a pit of jealousy.” she countered, one eyebrow raised at him in almost a challenging manner. a moment passed as she visibly weighed her options, exhaling in a near exasperated manner before she was standing, “insult my future little brother? i cannot.”

     perhaps if she had been fonder of louis she would have declined such an offer but with age only brought a divide between the two and because of this she would do as she pleased with little care to his feelings, or frankly, his ego.

     “ a dose of jealousy’s good for the soul, i’ve heard. ” and had he only requested the wine prior to the dance, charles might’ve not felt a little pang of dismay at her comment.  but his smile was left unwavering ; he’d be damned if his intentions were to be completely dismantled by a bit of taunting. frankly, it was a relief to know the queen had some sense of humor  ─  seemingly apart from the other subjects in the room. 

    his hand extended for hers, although the rest of his body had yet to make any actual motion to move away from the façade of privacy they stepped into. “ regardless, ” charles began again, bowing ever so slightly to allow his voice to dip an octave closer to a whisper. “ between you and i, i fear my brother’s always been troubled by envy. ” the faint tilt of his smile read mischievous. “ ─ understandably so, of course. ”

[sebastiansource]